Care of saltwater fish

As for the care of the tank and even the acclimatization of the fish, there are automated mechanisms that allow them to be carried out almost without supervision.

Fish are organisms that have a great diversity of shapes, appearances and sizes, so they are sought after to decorate the home. In fact, marine species are the ones with the most colorful colors, which is why saltwater aquariums have the greatest preference. However, because conditions at sea are very stable, caring for saltwater fish is usually more complicated.

For this reason, in this space the main recommendations are listed, as well as everything you should take into account, before venturing into the world of aquarium. Please read on to learn more about this topic below.

Saltwater fish

Saltwater species are more expensive than freshwater species, since, for the most part, the requirements for their maintenance or reproduction are very strict. In addition, some of them are captured in their natural habitat, which increases their cost and scarcity at the points of sale.

One of the best recommendations is that it starts with easy specimens, since they resist a little more water change. In addition to this, it should also be considered that they will need an artificial ecosystem, which best resembles their natural environment. For this purpose, invertebrates such as corals and anemones can be added to complement the aquarium's appearance and function.

Saltwater fish with simple care

Therefore, we suggest a range of fish species that are suitable for starting an aquarium:

• Clownfish: one of the most popular specimens for Disney children's movies. The varieties bred in captivity are very resistant and colorful, however, they will need the presence of anemones, and in general of a coral reef type environment.
• Damselfish fish: of the species with more colors on the market, the tank it inhabits must have coral reef characteristics, since they are closely associated with it. In fact, it is a good companion of clownfish and various types of gobies.
• Green damsel: the best option if you want to keep a coral reef aquarium, as they are easy to breed and adapt well to almost any food. The only problem is that they are guild specimens, so you will have to add them in groups.
• Banggai cardinal: species that is usually peaceful and shy, but that needs hydrogen peroxide and hiding places to protect itself. Most of these specimens do not represent a problem in captivity, but depending on where it is acquired, it may or may not be accustomed to eating processed foods.
• Blenio bicolor (Ecsenius bicolor): this animal can adapt to tanks with few species, or even being the only one in the aquarium, however, it needs live rock for feeding and shelter. It is a shy but sociable fish, which needs to have enough space, because it is easily stressed if it cannot swim freely.
• Yellow coral goby and fire goby: Both fish are considered reef, so they will need corals in their midst. Due to the territoriality, they show towards their congeners, it is better to keep a single specimen or breeding pairs.
• Grama Loreto: This colorful fish should only be kept in fairly large tanks, since it becomes aggressive in small aquariums. In general, its behavior is peaceful, but it can cause problems of territory with other individuals of its species.

These are just a few examples of the fish you can have in your aquarium. Also, remember that the best option is to choose those who come from hatcheries, since they are more accustomed to life in the tank.

The tank of saltwater fish

The fish of the sea are one of the most beautiful organisms that exist in the world, because their bright colors, sizes and peculiar shapes, make them the perfect pets. Despite this, the conditions in the seas are different from those of fresh water, since salt water does not have significant fluctuations in its chemical parameters.

Because of this, saltwater aquariums must maintain precise control of the conditions, to ensure the quality of life of the fish that inhabit them. This means that it is important to invest time, space and money so that the tank is ready before the specimens are integrated.

Tank criteria

To begin with, aquariums need ample space so that each specimen can swim freely. This means that the minimum size of the tank should be 300 liters, but one greater than 500 is recommended, when considering having several specimens. In addition, this space must maintain a depth of 60 centimeters, since this will allow to create areas with different amount of light.

The décor is also very important to ensure that pets feel relaxed and safe. With this in mind, it is necessary to place ornamental rocks and living rocks, so that they provide caves or nooks and crannies that serve as a hiding place. What's more, this will make it easier to keep your aquarium stable, since they allow the formation of bacteria and algae that will maintain the health of the tank.

On the other hand, as for the substrate, a good option is to use sand and coral, which fill the bottom with at least 2 millimeters. In fact, the latter will depend on the species you want to have, since some require a greater amount of substrate, such as gobies, for example.

Recommended equipment

As already mentioned, saltwater aquariums must be monitored accurately, as their parameters should not change suddenly. For this reason, a large part of the initial expense for the tank is the equipment needed to carry out the measurement and maintenance of water quality.

In this sense, it is recommended to have the following equipment:

• LED light: Light is critical to maintain the growth of algae and aquarium vegetation. Moreover, there must be a balance between white light and blue light, to have a balance in the system.

• Tank filter: there are several options depending on the aquarium and the species. In the case of resistant fish, a biological filter is more than enough. However, when it is intended to maintain other more sensitive species, it is better to opt additionally for a skimmer or skimmer that filters and regulates ammonia better.
• Activated carbon filter: this is additional and should only be considered when maintaining a multi-fish system. Even so, it also serves to maintain the balance of the tank.
• Recirculation pumps: Even if you think they are not necessary, these pumps help improve oxygenation and create currents that mix water and balance the parameters. This is usually necessary for the care of several saltwater fish.
• Reverse osmosis system: it is recommended, but not essential, it helps to purify the water to carry out the spare parts. This mechanism facilitates the process, but can be done at home if you do not have the budget.
• Density meter: the most important part of a saltwater aquarium is just the concentration of salt in the water, with this tool it allows to measure the salinity and prevent it from exceeding the optimum. An alternative is to use a refractometer that uses another process to measure concentration, but meets the same goal.
• Heater (cooler): Because they are tropical water species, the temperature must be kept stable, so a thermostat can save the lives of your pets.

Water parameters

With respect to the usual water parameters, the needs of each species must be taken into account, but in general the following criteria can be used:

• Temperature: 24-26 °C
• Specific gravity (salinity): 1.025
• pH: 8.0-8.3
• Ammonium: 0 ppm
• Nitrites: 0 ppm
• Nitrates: < 10 ppm
• Alkalinity: 6- 9° dH
• Calcium: 400- 450 ppm
• Magnesium: 1200-1320 ppm
• Phosphates: 0 ppm
• Iodine: 0.5-0.8 ppm
• Iron: 0.1-0.3 ppm

Water cycling and first assembly

When the aquarium is first assembled it is necessary to perform a cycling procedure to "mature" the system and achieve stability. This is achieved by putting it to work for a while, containing nothing but water and decoration. During this process, a follow-up of the parameters to review that vary so much is maintained.

In the first week of cycling, it is recommended to add the living rock so that the bacteria help maturation. In addition, small portions of food that help grow microorganisms in the aquarium should also be added. The foolproof signal that determines the maturity of a tank is the presence of nitrates, but not nitrites, so this should be checked with measurement kits.

The process can take between 6 and 7 weeks, so you must prepare in advance, to receive the new fish on time.

Spare parts and preparation of salt water

To keep the aquarium system stable it is recommended to change between 20 and 30% of the water every week. This procedure should be performed in a clean container that is free of any chemicals or impurities. In this osmosis water or distilled water is added, in addition to 35 grams of synthetic salt for aquarium.

At this moment, you need to stir the mixture and measure the chemical parameters of the water. However, this should be done with water at a temperature of 25-26 degrees Celsius, as this can change the result of measurements. Once confirmed that it has the correct salinity, this water is ready to perform the replacement.

The replacement process should be slow, gradually removing the water from the fish tank and replacing it almost immediately with the new one. Remember to check the parameters of the fish tank, to confirm that the water quality remains stable.

Previous care of saltwater fish

As with the aquarium, the fish must go through an acclimatization process that allows the specimens to attach to their new home. For this you need to follow a series of simple steps that will allow you to avoid overstressed to your new pet.

The first thing to do is to use the bag or container with which it was delivered to you and put it, without opening it, inside the fish tank for 30 minutes. This is done with the aim that the temperature of both waters is equalized and that the fish does not suffer a thermal shock. After that, we proceed to open the bag, and without releasing it, it begins to combine with the water from the fish tank, slowly and in small quantities.

After a few minutes, the process is finished by finishing releasing our pet into his new home. Remember that it is best to turn off the light and do all these steps as slow and delicate as possible.

Care of saltwater fish inside the aquarium

Once the fish are installed in the aquarium only 2 things need to be checked, their diet and their health. For the first point, it is necessary to verify the nutritional requirements of each species, in order to know what type of food to give it and how many times a day. In general, a balanced diet between processed foods and living foods is usually suggested.

As for the second point, most health problems are caused by poor water quality. Among the most common diseases are marine ichthyosis, an infection by ciliates and velvet skin, caused by a dinoflagellate. Both pathologies are evidenced by a change in the skin of the fish, so you have to be observant to any anomaly.

For most cases there are medications that must be administered directly to the water, which is why it is preferable to have an extra tank in the form of a hospital. With this, it is possible to avoid the contagion of the other specimens and a precise follow-up of the recovery is carried out.

All of the above is likely to be a huge waste of time and work, but they are worthwhile efforts. Having a pet is not an easy responsibility, since animals will depend on us for life. However, the biggest reward is the opportunity to be as close to beautiful and enigmatic species as these fish.

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